Introduction

For starters, the first section of this book has a significant learning curve by not only learning new names and personalities, but also learning about obscure ancient computer systems. The book is a bit dense, but it’s fascinating to see how the hacker culture evolved from the early days of computing. It’s interesting to note how the hacker ethic has influenced modern technology and the tech industry as a whole. There are some instances where I can easily tell when a new peice of tech or vocabulary is being introduced, but there are also times when I feel a bit lost in the jargon. However, getting lost in the jargon seems intentional, as it immerses the reader in the world of hacking and computing. At first, reading this book was frustrating due to the complexity and unfamiliarity of the subject matter, but as I read on, I found myself getting more invested in the stories and the people behind the tech revolution.

Section 1: The Origins of Hacking

The Tech Model Railway Club at MIT is a strange yet fascinating place to start the book. The emphasis the club members had on tinkering and experimenting with technology is a theme that resonates throughout the book. The club members not only pushed the boundaries of cutting edge technology, but also social norms and rules. Learning about how the club members solved problems and created new systems from scratch is inspiring. The book does a great job of highlighting the creativity and ingenuity of the Tech Model Railway Club members. Reading stories of TMRC members finding loopholes in systems and creating new ways to interact with technology was a refreshing change from the usual narratives of rule-following and conformity. The book also does a great job of showing how the hacker culture was born out of a desire to explore and experiment with technology, rather than just following the status quo.

Section 2: Stories of the Pioneers

Reading about a 14 year old kid tinkering around with parts he found from a junkyard called back memories from my past. I would often find myself in the “Tech Dump” of my high school looking through all of the old computers and parts that were thrown away. I would take the parts home and try to build my own computer from scratch. Since my high school was built around the Apple ecosystem, tons and tons of Apple technology was thrown away. Apple computers don’t exactly have a reputation for being easy to tinker with, but I found a way to make it work.

One afternoon, I found a broken Macintosh Portable and took it apart to see how it worked. After enough hours of stripping screws and breaking parts, I was able to get the computer to boot up. It was a magical moment for me, and it was the first time I felt like a hacker. Reading about the early pioneers of hacking and computing reminded me of my own experiences with technology. About 4 “borrowed” iMacs and 3 busted-up iBooks later, I was finally able to build my own Mac system in the case of an old Mac G5 tower. It was a Frankenstein of a computer, but it was mine. I have this computer still on display in my computer room, and it helps me reconnect to my roots as a dumb kid who felt so cool sneaking into a stinky trash room to find parts to build a computer. Although I wasn’t apart of the original group of pioneers in the book, I was able to connect with their stories and feel like I was discovering the world of hacking for the first time.

As a kid, I’d always wanted to feel like a hacker. I would show my friends hacker typer and mash my keyboard to make it look like I was “hacking”, but really I didn’t know what hacking even was. Reading this book has given me a new perspective on what it means to be a hacker. It’s not about breaking into systems or causing chaos (however fun), it’s about exploring and experimenting with technology. It’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating new systems from scratch. Looking at hacker typer now, I can’t help but laugh at how stupid and simple it is. I wish I could talk to my younger self and show him what all of the green words on the screen actually mean.